An overview of thermocatalyst technology in air pollution control: (narrative review)

Abstract

Air pollution represents a global challenge with significant adverse impacts on human health and the environment. In recent years, modern technologies have received considerable attention for their potential in controlling air pollution. This study provides a comprehensive review of various thermocatalytic technologies employed to mitigate air pollution. Data were collected from a wide range of online scientific literature sources, including databases such as ISI Web of Science, Scopus, Medline (via PubMed), Science Direct, and Google Scholar. Specific keywords related to thermocatalysts, air purification, air pollution, gaseous purification, gaseous pollution, and thermal catalysts were utilized in the search strategy. In thermocatalytic processes, the Mars-van Krevelen (MVK), Eley-Rideal (E-R), and Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) mechanisms play crucial roles. Thermocatalysts demonstrate high efficiency in the removal and reduction of air pollutants. The primary challenges in applying these catalysts include their thermal energy activation and high manufacturing costs. Consequently, ongoing research focuses on reducing energy consumption, lowering production costs, and enhancing catalyst performance in pollutant removal, all of which are conducted at the laboratory scale. To this end, it is recommended that future research prioritize the design and development of optimized thermocatalysts to meet industry needs.